Technological Advancements
The following information is broken into several components. Three areas in which technological advances have been made are presented. Following the descriptions of each of these areas are opportunities for empowerment to consider.
Technological Advance: Care at the Bedside
Technology has changed care at the bedside dramatically over the past several decades (Haux, 2010). Client accessible electronic medical records (EMR), increasingly sensitive monitoring machines and quick access to test results are a few examples of the impact advancing technology is having on how health care providers (HCPs) provide client care. HCPs increasingly have access to internal and regional policies and procedures and other information through intranet systems which helps to ensure consistent care is provided to all clients regardless of which facility they are in. Along with the increasing improvements, there are also challenges in providing up to date care (Wagner et al., 2010). Differences in comfort, use and application of technology across the generations impacts
inter-generational work and levels of empowerment (United Nations, n.d.). Consider the changes as outlined in the following table:
Care at the bedside: Opportunities for empowerment
1. Provide HCPs with the necessary resources (material and educational) to continue to keep up with the latest and greatest
technology (monitors, EMR systems, equipment and accessible intranet systems).
1. Provide HCPs with the necessary resources (material and educational) to continue to keep up with the latest and greatest
technology (monitors, EMR systems, equipment and accessible intranet systems).
Technological Advance: Health Information
Technology has provided the public users of health care to seek health information in greater detail than has ever been available (Lo & Parham, 2010). HCPs however, have had many challenges in keeping up with the rapidly changing options available to clients. One of the greatest challenges has been ensuring the information that clients receive is the right information based on the client’s individual situation (Atack & Luke, 2012). The internet provides access to information that ranges from that which is based on evidence to
opinions of users who have no medical background at all. Consumers should be aware of where the information is from, the evidence behind it and use it in conjunction with information from their physician.
Technology has provided the public users of health care to seek health information in greater detail than has ever been available (Lo & Parham, 2010). HCPs however, have had many challenges in keeping up with the rapidly changing options available to clients. One of the greatest challenges has been ensuring the information that clients receive is the right information based on the client’s individual situation (Atack & Luke, 2012). The internet provides access to information that ranges from that which is based on evidence to
opinions of users who have no medical background at all. Consumers should be aware of where the information is from, the evidence behind it and use it in conjunction with information from their physician.
Health information: Opportunities for empowerment
1. Challenge HCPs to seek evidence based information for their clients and to provide clients with a list of recommended websites
2. Empower clients to continue to seek information and discuss results with their HCP
3. Establish workshops where clients learn how to search for medical information
4. Encourage HCPs to seek out resources that facilitate personalized education based on a client's individual situation.
1. Challenge HCPs to seek evidence based information for their clients and to provide clients with a list of recommended websites
2. Empower clients to continue to seek information and discuss results with their HCP
3. Establish workshops where clients learn how to search for medical information
4. Encourage HCPs to seek out resources that facilitate personalized education based on a client's individual situation.
Technological Advance: Social Media
Use of social media by adult internet users has increased from 29% in 2008 to 65% in 2012 (Neiger et al., 2012). Social media can be very effective in raising awareness, providing accurate information and engaging people in discussions they may not have been a part of if not for the social media venue (Neiger et al., 2012). Clients can become members of virtual support groups where they can choose their
level of engagement and anonymity. While social media relationships can be beneficial for client to client interactions, caution must be used when HCPs and clients become “friends” and the boundary between professional and personal relationships becomes blurred. Client privacy and confidentiality must be maintained whenever the professional relationship of HCP and client crosses over
to the social media setting (NCSBN, 2011).
Social media: Opportunities for empowerment
1. Organizations can reach their clients through social media for such things as health promotion (e.g. annual flu shots) and to
provide emergent health information for outbreaks or disasters.
2. HCPs could provide platforms for clients to pose questions and receive information which further empowers the community to
ask the questions they need to.
3. Provision of a central location for information for the public to easily access
1. Organizations can reach their clients through social media for such things as health promotion (e.g. annual flu shots) and to
provide emergent health information for outbreaks or disasters.
2. HCPs could provide platforms for clients to pose questions and receive information which further empowers the community to
ask the questions they need to.
3. Provision of a central location for information for the public to easily access